Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


38

Dems Threaten to Kill Health Care Bill Over Abortion

Bart Stupak says he's got the votes to derail it

Share

(Newser) – The House is barreling towards a health care vote, hoping to pass its bill by the end of the week, but there’s a potential stumbling block ahead: abortion. A group of socially conservative Democrats are threatening to vote against the bill because the subsidies it offers to help people buy insurance could be used to buy plans that cover abortion.

“I will continue whipping my colleagues…until a clean vote against public funding for abortion is allowed,” said Bart Stupak of Michigan, who says he can get 40 Democrats to vote against the bill with him—enough to derail it. A provision in the bill tasks insurers with making sure public money doesn’t fund abortions, but Stupak’s contingent says that’s just an accounting distinction. Pro-choice groups counter that doing more would effectively ban private insurance coverage for abortions.

Bart Stupak says he can get the votes to block health care legislation in the House if his abortion concerns aren't addressed.
Bart Stupak says he can get the votes to block health care legislation in the House if his abortion concerns aren't addressed.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
38 comments
VIEWING:
 
Guava_Jelly
Nov 3, 09 9:33 AM CST
Knock me over with a feather....this bill is a HUGE steaming pile of feces. I suggest Congress stops buying toilet paper and we put the 2K pages of paper to good use. ---> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703399204574505423751140690.html Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-14
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Nov 3, 09 9:42 AM CST
The democrats are having an incredibly difficult time getting this bill passed. If the democrat Corzine loses in NJ today, and all indicators say he will, you dems can kiss this health care bill good bye as it is toxic to the reelection hopes of many democrats.
Vote up! Vote down!
-13
IN RESPONSE:
jamerican
Nov 3, 09 9:55 AM CST
Don't tell me that there are a few demorats with a conscience or fear of God that they really don't want to kill innocent babies. Maybe they really do know that someday they will bow before almighty God and give an account.
Vote up! Vote down!
-15
IN RESPONSE:
prowlerzee
Nov 3, 09 10:01 AM CST
Just keep your pecker in your pants and don't have an abortion if you don't want one. It's none of your stinking business what PRIVATE LEGAL medical procedures other citizens opt to have you fascist. These male supremacist "democrats" need to be voted out of office.
Vote up! Vote down!
+7
IN RESPONSE:
Doctor_Zaius
Nov 3, 09 10:03 AM CST
The Wall St. Journal Op Ed page is just right of Mein Kamph weekly.
Vote up! Vote down!
+8

View all 38 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

75 Stories

NATE SILVER & CO.

Senators See Upcoming Vote on Obama—Not Health

Eye constituents' votes in 2008, not polls on health care

Nov 19, 09 10:18 AM CST
(Newser) - The upcoming Senate debate on health care reform, like the House vote before it, will be more a referendum on President Obama than a reflection of constituents’ concerns, Andrew Gelman, Nate Silver, and Daniel Lee write. What happened in the House is clear: 31 of 39 Democrats who voted no... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate • House of Representatives • voters • health care reform • Obama administration • President Obama • Blanche Lincoln • constituents

 Reid Rolls Out 
 Senate Health 
 Bill for Sat. 
 Showdown 

Public option weaker than House's, abortion restriction less severe

Nov 19, 09 7:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Harry Reid rolled out the Senate’s combined health care reform bill last night, earning oohs and ahhs from fellow Democrats, particularly over the price tag, and setting the stage for a cloture vote Saturday. The bill would cost a svelte $849 billion over 10 years while reducing the deficit... More »

MORE ABOUT:
abortion • health insurance • Senate • Harry Reid • health care reform • public option • health insurance exchange • health care abortion

Analysis

Abortion Amendment Not a Big Deal, by the Numbers

Only 13% of abortions are billed to private insurers

Nov 17, 09 8:46 AM CST
(Newser) - The Stupak-Pitts amendment clamping down on abortion funding by insurers isn’t the game changer it's been made out to be: It would affect only a tiny minority of women. Though 50% of privately insured women have plans that include abortion coverage, many, perhaps most, don't use it because of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
abortion • health insurance • health care reform • Stupak-Pitts

75 Stories


Politics  •  Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
abortion • House of Representatives • health care reform • Bart Stupak • women's issues • abortion debate • health care abortion

from our news partners